Liverpool to compete with top clubs for players - Hodgson

Liverpool want to compete with
Barcelona, Real Madrid and Inter Milan for top quality
reinforcements in the January transfer window, manager Roy
Hodgson said on Friday.

Liverpool have suffered a poor start to the season that has
left them marooned in the relegation zone with just two wins
from nine Premier League games.

The club's ambitions in the transfer market were limited
under previous owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett, but
following the conclusion of a protracted takeover battle,
Hodgson is hopeful he will be able to able to strengthen his
squad when the window re-opens.

"If we want the right quality, we have got to be prepared to
pay the right price," Hodgson told the club's website
(liverpoolfc.tv) on Friday.

"The owners know that perfectly well. We have got to make
certain that if we go out and spend 20 million pounds ($31.84
million), we are getting a 20 million player.

"We want to be attracting the players that Barcelona, Real
Madrid and Inter are chasing. It would be nice to think that we
can shop at a high level."

Liverpool's poor form on the pitch was overshadowed in the
early stages of the campaign by the boardroom wrangle that
culminated in their takeover by New England Sports Ventures.

The change of ownership, however, has failed to end
speculation in British media that high-profile players like
striker Fernando Torres and goalkeeper Pepe Reina could be
leaving Anfield.

The new owners, however, have hinted that top players will
not be allowed to leave.

"I can reassure our supporters that we have no intention of
allowing the team to be weakened going forward," NESV principal
owner John Henry said on Friday.